Potsdam man jailed for lewd act at Hannafords

MASSENA - A Potsdam man was charged with public lewdness and jailed Wednesday night after he allegedly got a little too friendly with a stick of pepperoni inside the Hannaford store at the St. Lawrence Plaza.

John R. Allison, 41, of 8614 Route 11, rubbed the pepperoni on his exposed penis and then put the food back on the shelf inside the store, state police said. He is also charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief for the actions that made the food unfit for the store to sell.

He was arraigned by Massena Town Justice Gerald P. Sharlow and sent to the St. Lawrence County jail, where he is being held on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond.

A loss prevention officer at Hannfords told police he was monitoring video surveillance at the store when he saw Mr. Allisons actions.

I watched him go to the back of the store near the beer and the bakery sections. The guy was standing in a corner ... I thought he was going to steal some merchandise. Instead, he undid what I thought might be his belt. I then saw him unzip his pants, the unidentified store worker told police.

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